The Senate Ag Committee took up the topic of the research title in the Farm Bill during a hearing this week. Witnesses testified on the need to fund cutting-edge ag research, the power behind modern, high-tech agriculture. But USDA research chief Chavonda Jacobs-Young said funding for research is on the decline. “Federal investments in agricultural research have declined by a …
USDA Investing Funds in Healthier School Meals
The USDA is investing funds for healthier school meals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service launched a new initiative for healthier school meals through a $50 million grant opportunity. It will support collaboration with the food industry to develop nutritious and appetizing school meals for students. “We’re investing in innovative solutions and challenging …
USDA’s New Loan Assistance Provides Step-by-Step Guide
We told you yesterday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. Tyron Spearman reports USDA has experienced a high rate of incomplete or withdrawn applications due in part to a challenging and lengthy paper-based application process. So, this new tool was developed to give their …
New Loan Assistance Tool to Help Farmers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has launched a new online tool to help farmers and ranchers better navigate the farm loan application process. Tyron Spearman has more details.
Financial Assistance Opportunity for Florida Ag Landowners affected by Hurricane Ian
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants agricultural landowners and producers in the state affected by damages caused by Hurricane Ian to know they can apply for emergency assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). “Hurricane Ian caused an enormous amount of catastrophic damage to the state, and we are continuing to assess damages,” said Juan C. Hernandez, Florida State …
USDA Grant Signed to Connect Florida Schools with Underserved Farmers/Producers
(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Nov. 1, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the signing of a $11.4 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). The program provides grant funds to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness (FNW) to connect underserved farms with Florida schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) …
Farmers Can Now Make 2023 Crop Year Elections
Producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling more …
USDA Seeks Comment on Program
The Department of Agriculture seeks public comment on how it should implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act. The provision aims to assist the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. Section 22007 provides a transformative opportunity for USDA to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners impacted by discrimination in USDA farm …